What do burndown charts track?

A burndown chart is a visual tool used in Scrum to track the amount of work remaining in a Sprint or project versus the time available to complete that work. Specifically, it displays how much work remains at the end of each day, allowing the team to assess their progress toward completing the Sprint goal.

The primary focus of a burndown chart is to provide insight into how much work is left (often measured in story points, hours, or task count) and to illustrate whether the team is on track to finish on time. This tracking helps teams self-correct and adjust their pace as necessary to meet their commitments.

By monitoring work remaining over time, teams can visualize trends and make informed decisions, such as whether they might need to adjust scope or increase their efforts in the remaining time. This proactive approach enhances transparency within the team and to stakeholders, ensuring everyone is aware of the progress being made.